The Embroideress

After a recent hospitalization (hopefully the last for awhile) I was released to return home on Veterans Day even though I'd explained to physicians that transportation would be difficult on a holiday. I use Access Ride to toddle around Nashville and they are great but you have to book van rides 24 hours or so in advance and suddenly needing transportation on a holiday when all their scheduling folks are home with their families is impossible.

When the staff at 3North at the Nashville VA found out that I was facing another hospital day or a very expensive cab ride they arranged to cover for one of the nurses to drive me home during her break time. So Stephanie, thank you and all your colleagues for going the extra mile and delivering me at my front door with an added treat of a little fast food in my hand so I didn't have to worry about dinner.

Yes, we hear about the difficulties the VA has in providing care for us vets and they are struggling with budget and with determining the needs of all sorts of vets. There are successes however. We have a great new Women's Health Center here in Nashville that addresses the concerns and needs of women vets and recently I have received medical care that would have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in the private sector.

One thing you can do for any vet you know who does not receive care from the VA is urge them to apply for health care benefits whether or not they have a service connected disability. Many more vets can now qualify for care if they find themselves unemployed or underemployed and with marginal or no health care insurance coverage.

Labels: Life the Universe and Everything

I've been reading a bit lately on the various insects used as dyes in the ancient world and wonder if I could dye anything with a mash of our local ladybugs.

We are in the ladybug invasion season and I detest the miserable little beasts. I vacuum them up daily, swat them, blow them out of my keyboard and off my lamps and generally curse them soundly. I think I could easily gather enough to make a trial of the thought. Anybody used ladybugs as a colorant? If so would you share your experience?

Labels: dyeing, Ladybugs

Back at the keyboard my friends and readers. During the past few days I've been luxuriating in a beautiful catalog from the Wien Museum that accompanied their exhibit titled "Grosser Auftritt - Mode der Ringstrassenzeit" ISBN: 978-3-85033-354-2

The Ringstrasse Era was Vienna's Belle Epoque - that unreal, royalty ridden, mauvey twilight sort of period from the 1860's to 1910 or thereabouts. Consumer society was found in abundance and haute couture was covered in lace, embroidery, beads and composed of beautifully manipulated fabrics fitted to a hair's span.

The photographs are outstanding and offer heaps of detail. Yes, it is in German and required my dictionary readily at hand but it is well worth costumers and embroiderers owning a copy or at least having their local library obtain it for inter-library loan.

Thank you MJ for this delicious book.

Meanwhile, I think many of us are sentimentally drawn to this era of embroidery (and even quilting). See Sharon B's plans for a heap of lace if you want to get into the mood as well.

http://www.pintangle.com/journal/2009/11/2/just-look-at-this-lace.html

Labels: Costume embroidery, Costume history, European history

One of the few newsletters to which I subscribe is the British Library Images Library . This issue notes images from a wide selection of their collections taking a look at myths and monsters.

Of course I drifted over to the shop and saw several books assembled for an exhibit on Henry VIII. Rats!!! I don't own any of them and I covet all of them!!! The British Library, both in person and online, has one of the best bookstores around if you are interested in history, art, bookarts, just about anything and everything.

Labels: British Library, Henry VIII

Get ready to be lost in eye candy. I check in every once in a while on ArtFund, a site dedicated to documenting art purchased with the purpose of keeping it in UK collections. A search of the term "textile" yields 239 images.
The images are undoubtedly provided by the holding museums and vary in quality but are generally good and enlarged views are provided. Unfortunately sometimes no image is provided, only tantalizing indications of the item.

A woman's jacket employing an unusual vermiform design in gilt and spangles including a back view for those interested in construction.

A Stuart casket unusually accompanied by a carrying case covered with 18th century wallpaper made to protect it. It seems to have protected it well as the colors of the embroidery are bright and vibrant although the mounting board and braid are a bit disheveled.

Lest we forget the gentlemen - try a look at Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick's coat, waistcoat and amazingly stockings included. Undecorated clothing is less often preserved for us to see.


For some delicate Jacobean embroidery

As usual, don't blame me if you are caught up surfing and surfing and surfing for embroidery.

Labels: Costume history, History of Needlework, Needlework, Textile Collections

Now I gave up games when I mastered Tetris and Leather Goddesses of Phobos (showing my age again) but the announcement of Medieval Games set for wii playstation seems enticing. Don't worry folks, I won't be spending time on it - I don't have the requisite toys to play with.

Labels: Fun and Games

My friend Andrea (Giggles to some of us) posted a comment that took me right down memory lane. The past few years have caused me to curb my travel and a good deal of physical activity but oh boy the memories of my golden years are nothing short of glorious.

Not only do I remember blackwork stitching with Steve in their Starbeck living room, but I remember the many arrivals on the local train at twilight time, pulling the old battered suitcase along the street to their front door and being enveloped by friends, kidlets, pets, aromas, chatter, news, hugs and eventually an arm-in-arm walk out to the shops with Andrea. This was the time away from family and fuss when we could exchange confidences, encourage each other and generally feel as if we had not lost a minute's time apart. The shops meant last minute purchases of this and that and of course sweeties for the kids. This is why a blackwork pattern in one of my books is named Starbeck because it looks like candies tossed from above.

Not only did Andrea and Steve share a love of stitching with me, they shared their family life with me. Who else would give me a Yorkshire Pudding lesson and a well-seasoned pudding pan from her own cupboard. And yes Andrea, it is still with me. None of the moves have dislodged it from my collection.

I'm hoping the golden years come about again, but if not, nothing can erase my golden memories.

Labels: Life the Universe and Everything